Blind kids want the same
things sighted kids do. They want to watch their favorite television shows,
go rollerskating with the gang, buy the current fashionable shoes, and read
the newest popular book. Children enjoy collecting their favorite books and
reading them over and over. Many adults today continue to cherish their Nancy
Drew or Boxcar Children book collections. Experts in literacy say
that this type of popular literature plays an important role in developing reading
skills and a love of reading among children. We at the American Action Fund
for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) believe blind children ought to have the
opportunity to enjoy literature, develop literacy skills, and learn to love
reading, just like their sighted peers. Through the Free Braille Books Program
we are working to make this possible.

In
1997 the AAF started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book
every month from a popular children's reading series. The books are for the
children to keep and collect for as long as they want them. The titles published
every month are the same titles that are available in bookstores and public
libraries everywhere. In the past six years over one hundred twenty-six titles
from popular children's reading series were distributed to thousands of blind
children. These titles were from the following reading series: Goosebumps®,
Goosebumps® Series 2000, Animorphs®, Baby-Sitters Club, Baby-Sitters Club –
Friends Forever, The Nightmare RoomÔ, Little House chapter
books, Nancy Drew®, The Hardy Boys®, A to Z MysTerieS®, and Junie
B. Jones chapter books.

Because
reading interests and trends change, the AAF periodically reviews and changes
the titles offered. Beginning January 1, 2004, AAF will issue six titles each
from the A to Z MysTerieS® series (reading levels 2.6 and up), the ever-popular
Junie B. Jones series written by Barbara Parks (reading level 2.0 and
up), and the Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf (suitable for preteens).
The books will be shipped in alternating months: two titles in January, one
title in February, and so forth to the end of the year. Blind youngsters, blind
parents, teachers of the blind, schools, and libraries serving the blind are
eligible to participate in this program. Participants may enroll in or withdraw
from the program at any time. They may also choose to receive one, two, or all
three titles, as they like. And the books are free and theirs to keep.

No
child should be left out because he or she is blind. Because of this program
blind children can now discuss the newest book with their classmates and build
their very own collection of books--just like their sighted friends.

Free
Braille Books Program Application

To
apply for the program, please send the information requested in the application
below to: